“It's an unforgiving division we find ourselves in and we're in amongst some very big clubs. Even if we had got everything right, we would have had all on. It only needs a few signings who don't quite settle as you hope and you can find yourselves in quite big difficulty – and a lot bigger clubs have found that".
I don't disagree with any of that. In fact I think it is spot on. My issue is that it is all very well saying that now, but at the start of the season we were being told that we had a competitive budget and that the target was to be mid-table looking up. How do those things square with each other?
I know that you can't go into a season predicting relegation, but you can be realistic without upsetting anyone. Messages like 'it is always tough but we feel like we are established in the Championship and are going to give it a go' or 'our aim is to do better than last season and lets see what happens' would have been well enough received. The club did a terrible job of managing expectations. Cynics might say (do say) to sell season tickets.
My problem with the people at the top isn't the effort they put in, or the money they put in, or what they have done for us. For those things we will be forever grateful. I also don't doubt that there is a determination to put things right. Sometimes though communication with supporters is poor and at times we come across as being pretty amateurish.
“It's an unforgiving division we find ourselves in and we're in amongst some very big clubs. Even if we had got everything right, we would have had all on. It only needs a few signings who don't quite settle as you hope and you can find yourselves in quite big difficulty – and a lot bigger clubs have found that. I feel very much the same.
I would point out also the lack of insight in Pauls own words.
If it really is what he has said then there is actually no way to "put it right" so: "even if we got everything right , we would still have had all on", is not exactly congruent .
A quote that I noticed as well...But we all knew that anyway, but as Smiler says a touch of sensible dialogue with the fans would have been appreciated rather than the guff of competitive budgets and stadium expansion et al, only served to raise expectation after the anxiety amongst fans after the great escape last time. The disappointment of relegation is nothing new to us, nor is the sense of realistic aims, but we dont like being taken for mugs
“It's an unforgiving division we find ourselves in and we're in amongst some very big clubs. Even if we had got everything right, we would have had all on. It only needs a few signings who don't quite settle as you hope and you can find yourselves in quite big difficulty – and a lot bigger clubs have found that. I feel very much the same.
I would point out also the lack of insight in Pauls own words.
If it really is what he has said then there is actually no way to "put it right" so: "even if we got everything right , we would still have had all on", is not exactly congruent .
... I caught a congruent once from a cobble off Brid, but it was mainly cod and a few flatfish...
“It's an unforgiving division we find ourselves in and we're in amongst some very big clubs. Even if we had got everything right, we would have had all on. It only needs a few signings who don't quite settle as you hope and you can find yourselves in quite big difficulty – and a lot bigger clubs have found that. I feel very much the same.
I would point out also the lack of insight in Pauls own words.
If it really is what he has said then there is actually no way to "put it right" so: "even if we got everything right , we would still have had all on", is not exactly congruent .
... I caught a congruent once from a cobble off Brid, but it was mainly cod and a few flatfish...
OK Joe, did you see the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg asking the most powerful man in the world a series of penetrating questions during Teresa May's visit to the US? Time to step up to the plate mate and make a name for yourself. Have another read of the Advertiser's article above and note particularly the statements from Paul Douglas:
1. "It only needs a few signings who don't quite settle as you hope and you can find yourselves in quite big difficulty – and a lot bigger clubs have found that."
2. "It's a horrible experience to be losing games but we haven't lost any commitment to put this right, and we will put it right."
In order to make a name for yourself and get a scoop, can I suggest you go back to Mr Douglas with a view to ascertaining the following;
With regard to statement 1, ask him if his tactics to prevent this outcome were not to sign anyone thereby avoiding the possibility that a player might not quite settle?!
And for statement 2, could you ask him for a timescale? It's obviously not a pressing issue as the transfer window would bear out!
Douglas only made the comments to David Beddows last Friday so it should still be fresh in his mind. Don't be afraid to push the point and don't leave until you have a satisfactory answer. We counting on you because everyone following RUFC wants to know what the **** is going off!
OK Joe, did you see the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg asking the most powerful man in the world a series of penetrating questions during Teresa May's visit to the US? Time to step up to the plate mate and make a name for yourself. Have another read of the Advertiser's article above and note particularly the statements from Paul Douglas:
1. "It only needs a few signings who don't quite settle as you hope and you can find yourselves in quite big difficulty – and a lot bigger clubs have found that."
2. "It's a horrible experience to be losing games but we haven't lost any commitment to put this right, and we will put it right."
In order to make a name for yourself and get a scoop, can I suggest you go back to Mr Douglas with a view to ascertaining the following;
With regard to statement 1, ask him if his tactics to prevent this outcome were not to sign anyone thereby avoiding the possibility that a player might not quite settle?!
And for statement 2, could you ask him for a timescale? It's obviously not a pressing issue as the transfer window would bear out!
Douglas only made the comments to David Beddows last Friday so it should still be fresh in his mind. Don't be afraid to push the point and don't leave until you have a satisfactory answer. We counting on you because everyone following RUFC wants to know what the **** is going off!
I think that question probably means she will never get to ask another one like it.
Interestingly the naivety of her question is well framed in this situation too.
All the questions keep getting repeated and have been "answered" or the information is already available...Im not sure if the local lads can "legitimately" ask these kind of questions too.
Radio Sheffield lads are probably in a slightly more independent position but if the club wont speak or present themselves for such questions then its more their responsibility perhaps.l
Ian - as for Kuenssberg, it will set her up for life as the journo who had the affront to take on Trump on his home turf. As much as it made me cringe, it's the kind of keystone moment these people strive for to gain themselves notoriety and hence lucrative media careers.
As for Paul Douglas, the CEO of a company of which I am a shareholder (if somewhat minor), if he is prepared to offer his opinion to the local rag, he has an obligation to clarify those comments if they cause confusion or appear fatuous. The person to ask the questions is the journalist who reported his opinion in the first place. You say the questions have been answered or that the info is available - I must have missed something. I have not heard an official comment from the club of late which gives any indication as to what policies or doctrine have resulted in our current predicament.
I would far rather see an honest piece in the Advertiser than rely on a foreign radio station to handle our business for us.
Yes Laura may well be set in one sense but as far as being trusted I think she may have greatly diminished that. I also, like I think you allude to , think it was an awful GOTCHA question that was extremely embarrassing to many while im sure others would have loved it
Information:
I am meaning that its both deducible and intuitive to "know" what is going on by the mere observation of what has and hasnt been said and done.
I think one of the pitfalls is that there isnt an acceptance of "facts" for instance:
1. we didnt really "deserve" promotion in the sense we had no stability and no way of planning or knowing what would be required. The club had simply not had the experience and were riding on coat tails.
2. Season one was some of the best football ive seen yet we still struggled. Our team was never stable and we couldnt afford anyone other than (thankfully) some very good short term loans.
3. Whatever exactly happened to SE, it seems to be more than a coincidence that the club announced a change of philosophy which never even got off the ground but actually resulted in very cheap and poor standards of player recruitment.
4. Public criticism and the 11th hour change of heart that warnock had and the flight of Jackett.
5. Paul douglas statement concerning not really being up to it even if all the eggs hatch.
6. The admission of "mistakes"
7. The empty shop units.
8. The grinding shuddering halt of progress on and off the field in general.
9. The inability to close deals due primarily to wages.
10. No problem solving approach:
warne as manager
not able to retain managers
letting go of key assets
poor academy
constant talk about stadium extension and premiership
no recruitment strategy or head of recruitment (until recently)
I could probably go one but its not the evidence its the lack of qualifying the evidence. We can simply deduce the Q and As ourselves and send it to the Advertiser. In short it would say we dont have enough cash and will be very fortunate to get back to the championship as things are at present. We cant invest we cant maintain we dont have quality in the boardroom we dont have quality on or off the pitch. The championship is not our standard as things exist.
-- Edited by ian on Wednesday 1st of February 2017 09:08:40 PM
But as supporters and, to a certain extent, the lifeblood of the club, surely we deserve honest, if unpleasant, communication rather than having to rely on deduction and supposition. One of the common threads throughout much comment on here and other sites is that were the club to be open with supporters, that information would be far better received than no communication. I find it very unsettling that communication in good times is free flowing. Whereas, when the going gets tough the shutters go up. Lack of respect for supporters and cowardice come to mind.
He needs to be asked some serious questions about why time after time we constantly miss out on main targets. I get that every club misses out on certain players but our record for it is shocking.
